Stretcher.



No. 648,453. Patented May I, |900. H. W. DALY..

STBETCH'ER.

(Application led Aug. 7, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

u. w. DALY.

s`TnETcHER.

(Appcationled Au 7 1899. (No Model.) .g

TIE. 5.

menten May l, |900.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIENRYIV. DALY, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

STRETCHER.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,453, datedMay 1, 1900.

Application tiled August 7, 1899. Serial No. 726,388. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it nur/y concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY W. DALY, of

the United States Army, stationed at .Ieerson Barracks, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to stretchers; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating one of the frames that support the cover of my improved stretcher. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately 011 the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations of the different forms of springs of which I make use between the body portions of the stretcher and the frame thereof.

In the construction of the frame of myimproved stretcher I make use of a pair of side members 1, the same being preferably tubular, and hinged to each end of oneV of these side members 1 are the end members 2, the same being suitable lengths of tubing and provided at their free ends with lslotted bearings 3, which receive the member 1 opposite from the member to which said end pieces are hinged, and pins or cotters 4 are passed downwardly through said slotted bearings to rigidly connect said end pieces 2 with said member 1.

Fixed upon the members 1 a short distance from their ends are the sleeves-5, and integral withand projecting downwardly from said sleeves 5 are the ambulance-legs 6.

Fixed upon the members la short distance on each side of the centers thereof are the pairs of collars '7, between which the ends of the arms of a suitable platform engage when the stretcher is positioned upon a packanimal.

Hinged in any suitable manner to the under sides of the members 1 just inside the sleeves 5 are the field-legs 8, the same being somewhat longer than the ambulance-legs. When the field-legs 8 are foldedV up beneath the side members 1, they are caught and held by suitable spring-catches 9, carried on the under side of said members 1.

Located adjacent the ends of the members l and at the centers thereof are the collars 10, with which are formed integral the upwardlyprojecting ears 11, and passing through said ears are the bolts 12, on which are located the winged nuts 13. These collars 10 are arranged in pairs directly opposite each other, and engaged between the ears 11 are the lower ends of short vertically-arranged barsV 14, to the upper ends of which are hinged the outer lower ends of arms 15, the same meeting at a central point above the members 1 and being hinged to each other. Thus a plurality of frames are formed which project upwardly over the stretcher and over which frames the canvas cover is arranged.

Arranged upon the interior of the frame is' the body portion ofthe stretcher or that portion upon which the occupant of the stretcher is placed, and said body portion comprises a rectangular section 16, of canvas or analogous material, the side edges of which are bound with a double edging 17, of leather or analogous material, and passing through the eXtreme outer portion of this double edging is a rod 18. The body portion of the stretcher thus constructed is swung within the frame of said stretcher by means of coil-springs 19, the inner ends of said springs being formed into loops 20, whichpass around the rods 18,

and the outer ends of said springs are formed into the loops 21, which are passed around the side members lof the frame. There are a plurality of these coil-springs at each side 0f the body of the stretcher, they being suitablyarranged and disposed between the ends of the frame of the stretcher and between the sleeves 5 and collars 7. In some instances these springs 19 are ordinary retractile coilsprings, as seen in Fig. 5, or said springs may be of the form seen in Fig. 6-that is, an expansive coil spring-the opposite ends of which are engaged by the hooked ends of wire clips which pass thro ugh said expansive coil- IOO ordinary snaphooks 23, which are secured to lpair of these straps adjacent the head end of V the stretcher arecrossed, and a third strap is arranged adjacent the center of the stretcher, while a fourthstrap is arranged'adjacent the foot end of said stretcher.

The canvas cover for the stretcher :is're-5 tained upon the framesby providing a plu Yrality of small straps vor keepers and" sewing the same directly to the inside ofthe canvas cover, through which vstraps or keepers pass the framescomprising the arms 14 andl.

In the use of my improved stretcher the body of 'l the person to be carried on said stretcher is placed directly upon-the canvas body 16, after which the straps 25 are passed across said body and the 'snap-hooks 23 engaged in the rings 22. When the stretcher is in use in the field, the held-legs 8 are lowered, so that vthe frame and body of said stretcher are. sustained at a slight elevation from the ground. When the stretcher is lifted to be carried to'an ambulance or to a hospital, the field-legs 8 areswung upwardly and engaged bythe spring-catches 9, and during the transportation of said Stretcher the body thereon will experience little or no jolting or Vibration, owing to the spring connections be-v f tween the body ofthe stretcher and the frame thereof. i i Should it be desired to cover the body on the stretcher to shield the, samefroin the sun v or rain, the lower ends of the bars 14 are engage against the inside of the ends of the side ,gaged between the ears ll of the collars l0,

thus positioningthe frames comprising the arms l5 and bars 14 over the stretcher, after which a suitable canvas cover is placed over said frames and the stretcher, said cover being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Y When the stretcher is placed in an ambulance,.it rests directly upon the ambulancelegs l6.

When not in use and it is fdesiredto fold up the stretcher, the pins or cotters 4 are vdisengaged from the slotted bearings 3, which unlocks the outer ends of the end portions2 from the side member l, after which said end portions 2 are swung inwardly until they enmember to which they are hinged, after which the opposite side member l and the canvas body of the stretcher are rolled-up around Ythe end sections 2 and the side l member to which they are hinged, and the stretcher thus 2. lIn a stretcherhaving a 2 Ide/18,453,k

folded and, rolled may be rolledin the canvas ycover when the stretcheris-stored or transported.

, If desired,`a canvas'pillow (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) may be secured at its ends toa pairofthe rings 22 at the head 'end of the stretcher.`

. A stretcher of my improved. construction may be easily and quickly set up for use, occupies `a very smallspace when folded for storage or transportation, may be readily car- ,ried in an ambulance or upon a pack-animal,

and a wounded or injured person can be car- "riedupon said stretcher with great-ease and comfort.

v,I clairn'-` l. In astretcherhaving a foldingframe .and a flexible body-section within said folding frame, a4 plurality `of .coil-sprii1gs connecting the edges of i said iexible vbody-section with the sides of the folding frame, substantially as specified. v

folding frame and a flexible body-section within said folding frame, a plurality of lsprings connecting the edges of the exible section with the sides `of the folding frame, andaplurality of straps passing across the top of `theflexible bodysection, substantially as andfor theY purpose specified.v g 3. In a stretcher,a` folding frame, means whereby lsaid frame is rigidly held 'when' in use,r a flexible `body-section arranged within .the folding frame, straps passing across the top of said flexible body-section, a plurality of springs .unitingthe` sidesof the folding frame with the edges of` the flexible section, cover-holding frames detachably secured to A the sides of the folding frame, and a cover arranged to inclose the entire stretcher and to rest upon said Acover-frames,-substantially as specified.

4. In a stretcher, a folding frame, fixed legs depending from the! under sides of 'the ends of the side portions of said frame,` folding legs arranged to swing vdownwardly from the underside of the ends of said side sections ofA the frame, a flexible lbody-section within the folding frame, and elastic connections between the edges of the ileXible section and .the sides of the folding frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v 1 HENRY W. DALY.

Witnesses: v

ALFRED A. EIoKs, M. GRIFFIN.

IOO

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